why does my computer name change?

Question

Level 2

251 points

why does my computer name change?

Logging on to public WIFI (hotel, plus a VPN) as normal, then using HIGHTAIL app to upload/send a file - An alert pops up saying that the computer name has changed, by adding a number, so computer 1, 2, 3, this quickly escatlates to 1000's. No idea why.

Alert TEXT is...

The name of your computer “LAPTOP (3107)” is already in use on this network. The name has been changed to “LAPTOP (5493)”.

and a prompt to change the name. I can change the name but the adding of numbers still happens.

To change the name of your computer, open System Preferences and click Sharing, then type the name in the Computer Name field.

What's going on here?

MacBook Pro 15", OS X 10.11

Posted on Feb 23, 2019 10:27 AM

Reply

Answer 1

DonH49

Level 6

16,716 points

Feb 23, 2019 10:32 AM in response to cheekypaul

to get around that go to Sharing pane in system preference and enter a unique, ie not so common name and be sure its also in the edit window. case then closed.

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Answer 2

cheekypaul Author

Level 2

251 points

Feb 23, 2019 11:11 AM in response to Ruskes

"AFIK, it detects your are connected true "Managed" Network (Hotel, VPN), and it assigns you a unique ID for that."

And why over and over, never stopping? It literally goes from 1 to 5000+ like the 1/10th of a second on a stopwatch, and keeps going. And changing the name does nothing, it just does the same on the new name.

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Answer 3

cheekypaul Author

Level 2

251 points

Feb 23, 2019 10:47 AM in response to Ruskes

Ok. Interesting.

But that does lead me to ask/wonder why it only happens on (so far 2) Hotel WIFI's + VPN, and not anywhere else?

It doesn't happen at home, or other public WIFI places.

At least, I've not experienced it anywhere else, so far.

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Answer 4

cheekypaul Author

Level 2

251 points

Feb 23, 2019 11:18 AM in response to cheekypaul

Let me add, sharing is off on my computer, in every aspect.

The hotel WIFI is a login type, but no password.

the VPN is mine, a 3rd party.

I know Hightail uses nurlsession to upload, if that's got anything to do with this oddity.

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Answer 5

cheekypaul Author

Level 2

251 points

Mar 15, 2019 11:46 AM in response to Ruskes

The problem is that the new assigned number to my computer is going up and up and up into the 1000's of new re-named computer names. If I ok the apple dialogue that pops up it just re-pops up.

Really annoying and no one knows why or what to do about it.

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